If you've made the decision to change colleges and transfer coursework credits, here are some things that will increase your chances of being accepted into the transfer school of your choice.
Meet with a Transfer Advisor or Counselor
If you're in the midst of deciding whether or not to transfer, meet with an advisor at your current school. There are many transfer stories of students expressing frustration with the support they received from their current school. This is partly due to the lack of resources provided to assist potential transfer students - even though many institutions fully recognize their responsibility. Given the nature of the beast, schools have difficulty addressing the advising services of students intent on leaving and not staying. It is also due to the built-in incentives Colleges have to retain you as a student.
CollegeTransfer.Net works with hundreds of colleges and universities across the country. Many are placing a greater importance on streamlining transfer. They are allocating resources to support better advising and guidance services. And, they are applying proactive efforts to coordinate better with other peer institutions - which will make it easier for all students to transfer.
Most important, we have hundreds of institutions publishing their transfer information and services on CollegeTransfer.Net making the information available to students and advisors online in a shared repository. Advisors can help you search for transfer guides and agreements using CollegeTransfer.Net's
Search for Transfer Agreements. They can also help you ensure that courses you are taking or plan to take will transfer to potential target schools you are interested in. There are millions of course equivalencies in our database. Use the
Search for Course Equivalency mapping one school to another.
Advisors may also know of new transfer agreements under development. They usually take a few months to prepare. They also have contacts with other schools that will help you decide whether it's best to stay where you are or make the transition now or in the future. For example, some four-year schools have transfer agreements where they will accept a transfer student and automatically award junior status as long as the student has earned an Associate's degree at a two-year institution. Others have dual enrollment agreements that offer to cross credit for both the associate's degree and bachelor's degree.
If you're no longer in school, you can set up a meeting with an admissions counselor at the school in which you are interested. When you are scheduling the appointment, make sure that you mention that you are interested in transfer. Schools often have admissions counselors who specialize in working with transfer students. And, if you had attended a college or two before, we would suggest preparing your
Student Passport to consolidate your academic history and tracking course transferability.
Be Prepared
Review the school's web site prior to meeting with an admissions counselor. Take all of your supporting documents with you to the meeting, including your transcripts, catalogs and syllabi. The academic history presented in the Student Passport is a bit more detailed because of the consolidated courses and course descriptions are accessible online. The Student Passport is shareable through the storage center and messaging under your control. Reviewing these beforehand will give the advisor or counselor insight on your best options for transfer. And, it will help you understand the course credit questions.
Set Reasonable Transfer Expectations
Even if you take transcripts from your prior school to a meeting with an admissions counselor, you aren't likely to get an official evaluation of which courses will transfer to the new school until you enroll. Most schools only generate an official evaluation of transfer credit once you have applied and been accepted.
Check Transfer Application Deadlines
Check the Admissions section of the school's web site for Application Deadlines. Many schools have application deadline dates that are different for transfer applicants as opposed to first time freshman. In addition, some schools accept transfer students only for the fall term.
Complete Your Transfer Application Six Months Ahead
Depending on the school, getting in as a transfer student may be extremely competitive. Selective schools publish limits. Obtain the best letters of recommendation that you can get from faculty, employers or others who know your abilities. Make sure that you've lined up your official transcripts and test scores for your admissions application. If you've already transferred from one school to another, the school to which you are applying will likely want to see official transcripts from all of your previous schools.
Check on Financial Aid
Not to leave this for last, but once you pick your school and apply, the next step will be to visit with the Financial Aid office and validate your status, complete the necessary forms and apply for (if not renew) your Federal Financial Aid Applications (FAFSA). Finally, investigate transfer scholarships and programs that offer students in your circumstances assistance. Many schools and States have set aside special funds to help students transition.
Check the State Education Resources we have compiled for students considering transfer.
If you don't receive notice from the school that they have received your application and it is complete, i.e. they've received official transcripts, test scores and letters of recommendation, then contact the Admissions office to check on the status of your application. Don't miss out on transferring because of an incomplete application! Always follow-up and make sure things are in order. And, never assume anything. Good things in general to live by.